The divorce rate is on the decline

According to data from the United States Census Bureau, divorce has been on the decline in Las Vegas and throughout the country over the last 15 years. In fact, the divorce rate has fallen about five percentage points since 1996 across all age groups, census data indicates.

Some demographics have seen a greater decline in divorces than others. The divorce rate for married women between the ages of 25 and 29 fell by about 26 percent from 2006 to 2009. Women aged 30 to 34 also saw a 26 percent decline in the divorce rate during that time period.

The census data revealed that men, on average, divorce later in life than women. The majority of men who were recently separated or divorced were between the ages of 35 and 54. In comparison, most divorced or separated women were between the ages of 25 and 44, on average a decade younger than their male counterparts.

Census data did not indicate the reasons for the decline in the divorce rate, but a quick glance through our family law blog’s archives may shed some light on the topic. For instance, a number of people are holding off on divorcing their spouse due to the down economy. At the same time, cohabitation is on the rise among couples who seek to live and have children together without a formal civil union.

Want to read more on this topic? Check out our recent blog posts on the declining number of married adults in the U.S., the alleged health benefits of cohabitation, the reasons for divorcing in a difficult economy, and Nevada’s dubious honor of ranking first on the list of the “most divorced” states.

Source: Financial Planning, “Divorce Rates Drop, But Need For Advice Remains,” Donna Mitchell, Feb. 6, 2012